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A North Pocono Boy Scout will be fixing up this shed for his Eagle project. The building once served as Roaring Brook Twp.’s office.

ANTOSH

Blakely

With help from volunteers and community members, the Valley Community Library’s summer book and bake sale was very successful.

“We’re very grateful to the people who baked for the bake sale,” said Mary Barna, library director.

Held June 17-19, the bake sale generated about $500 that will help the library with operating and building costs.

And the book sale brought in $4,404.75, also to help maintain the library.

Ms. Barna was very thankful for all the help from the volunteers who helped organize the three-day event. She specifically mentioned Elizabeth Burok and Marie Theresa Froncek among the volunteers who helped organize the fundraiser.

The library put out a notice that it was willing to take used books, she said. Donated books the library didn’t have were added to the collection; the others were sold. Ms. Barna said the library will hold another sale in November.

— KATHLEEN BOLUS

kbolus@timesshamrock.com, @kbolusTT on Twitter

Clarks Summit

Six years ago, when Allison Stroyan first learned the Russian alphabet, she never imagined her knowledge of the language would land her a trip overseas.

But the recent Abington Heights High School graduate just returned home from a trip to Moscow, Russia, where she was one of six high school students representing the United States in the Olympiada of Spoken Russian.

The event, held June 5-12, featured more than 200 high school-age non-native Russian language learners from 30 countries. Students participated in various competitions, including a poetry reading, Russian country and history examination and oral language tests.

Standing before a panel of judges, Allison described the Moscow Kremlin.

“I made a lot of friends while I was over there, and now I will be able to talk to them in Russian on Facebook,” she said. “Skyping in Russian is hard. But by talking in Russian on Facebook, I will be able to improve my ability.”

Allison plans to study Russian when she attends Dickinson College in the fall.

— MICHAEL IORFINO

miorfino@timesshamrock.com, @miorfinoTT on Twitter

Dunmore

When Zack Peercy and Alec Gerchman started writing a play during their senior year of high school, it was just a fun project.

Now that the 19-year-olds have scheduled three performances at Dunmore High School’s auditorium in the next two weeks, it means more.

“I hope whoever sees this will come away with a greater appreciation for the arts,” Mr. Gerchman said. “Dunmore is a very sports-heavy community. Maybe when people see two kids just out of high school putting on a production, it will inspire someone else to do it too.”

The pair are putting on their two-hour play, called “Allons-y to the Future,” a musical parody of the movie “Back to the Future” and the popular television show “Doctor Who,”at 7 p.m. July 18-19 and 2 p.m. July 20.

There will be no charge for admission, but the pair will accept donations to help cover costs like equipment, costumes, insurance and district custodians.

The cast includes 13 people, and seven people are in the pit band. Most participants are current or former Dunmore students, with some also from Abington Heights.

Mr. Peercy, who is now studying creative writing at the University of Maine Farmington, wrote the script. Mr. Gerchman, who is studying game design and development at the Rochester Institute of Technology, wrote the songs.

The play is intended to be accessible to people who are not familiar with either the movie or television show it parodies.

—KYLE WIND

kwind@timesshamrock.com, @kwindTT on Twitter

Pittston

Strawberry shortcake sales meant success for the women of the Pittston United Methodist Church.

The church held its third strawberry shortcake social on June 28, and member Grace Rose said they sold more than 100 tickets just for the sweet dessert.

“We were very pleased,” she said.

The church served strawberry and peach shortcakes along with hot dogs, potato salad, baked beans and cole slaw, Ms. Rose said.

She said preparing for the social only takes a couple of days’ work.

“It’s one of the easier things to do, believe it or not,” she said. “You have one group that goes and gets the products you need, the kitchen prepares a couple of days before ... then you go an hour earlier.”

— SARAH SCINTO

sscinto@timesshamrock.com, @sscintoTT on Twitter

Roaring Brook Twp.

The small, dilapidated recycling shed by the Municipal Building on Blue Shutters Road has a special place in the hearts of Roaring Brook Twp. officials.

For many years, it was the township’s office and a headquarters for the justice of the peace, township Supervisor Robert Farischon said.

After the township government moved into its current facility, the small building moved to Moscow and became a shed for equipment at Golden Park.

Roaring Brook Twp. officials later lost track of the shack.

Eventually, they wanted to reclaim it to preserve a piece of history, and supervisors found the building a few years ago when office assistant Karen Gabello informed them the structure had moved to her neighbor’s yard.

“To have the building that was the office when the township was first incorporated, that’s pretty neat,” Mr. Farischon said.

Now, North Pocono High School senior Joseph Antosh is leading an effort to fix up the building as an Eagle Scout project.

“It’s kind of run down,” the 17-year-old said. “I want to make it look like it used to.”

Joseph has been seeking donated materials and help. He has already overseen the replacement of the structure’s shingles with supplies from Eastern Roofing Systems.

Joseph also plans to replace the shed’s damaged wood, repaint the building and install a door and windows by August.

— KYLE WIND

kwind@timesshamrock.com, @kwindTT on Twitter

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